Cao Kang
{{short description|Chinese footballer (born 1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Cao|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Cao Kang
|image = File:Cao Kang 2025-05-03 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Cao Kang in May 2025
|fullname = Cao Kang
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|1|8|df=y}}
|birth_place = Boxing County, Shandong, China
|height = 1.85 m
|currentclub = Nantong Zhiyun
|clubnumber = 25
|position = Midfielder
|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2013
|youthclubs1 = Jiangsu FA
|years1 = 2011–2013
|clubs1 = Jiangsu Youth
|caps1 = 31
|goals1 = 3
|years2 = 2014–2017
|clubs2 = Jiangsu Suning
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2017
|clubs3 = → Heilongjiang Lava Spring (loan)
|caps3 = 22
|goals3 = 1
|years4 = 2018–2022
|clubs4 = Heilongjiang Ice City
|caps4 = 116
|goals4 = 7
|years5 = 2023–
|clubs5 = Nantong Zhiyun
|caps5 = 48
|goals5 = 4
|club-update = 26 July 2024
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Cao Kang ({{zh|s=曹康|t=曹康|p=Cáo Kāng}}; born 8 January 1993) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for China League One club Nantong Zhiyun.
Career
=Early career=
Born in Boxing County in Binzhou, Shandong, Cao Kang moved to the city of Changzhou in Jiangsu at a young age,{{cite web|url=https://sports.sohu.com/20130701/n380300731.shtml|title=莫斯科中央陆军4-0江苏全运队 德拉甘刺探军情|publisher=Sohu|date=1 July 2013|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} where he started his football journey, being in the Jiangsu provincial youth team squad that participated in the 2011 China League Two.{{cite web|url=https://sports.sohu.com/20110516/n280595202.shtml|title=2011年中乙联赛完全名单之江苏紫金保险足球队|publisher=Sohu|date=16 May 2011|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} In 2013, Cao Kang was included in Jiangsu Province's squad for the 2013 National Games of China at the under-20 level.{{cite web|url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2013-09-05/17176763773.shtml|title=全运会男足-辽宁上海新疆携手晋级 四川山东出局|publisher=Sina Sports|date=5 September 2013|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} The same year, Cao Kang gained playing experience in an off-season friendly in a 4–0 loss as he faced Russian side CSKA Moscow. In 2014, Cao was named in Jiangsu Sainty's first-team squad for the 2014 Chinese Super League season.{{cite web|url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2014-03-05/17457052307.shtml|title=江苏舜天2014中超名单：德扬穿10号 多名国脚领衔|publisher=Sina Sports|date=5 March 2014|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} In 2016, after Jiangsu's Chinese FA Cup win in 2015, Cao Kang was included in the club's 2016 AFC Champions League squad.
=Heilongjiang Ice City=
On 13 March 2017, Cao Kang signed for Heilongjiang Lava Spring on loan from Jiangsu Suning.{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/297222.html|title=官方：火山鸣泉签下8名球员|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=13 March 2017|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} He scored his first goal for the club on 17 June 2017 in a 2–1 away league victory away at Dalian Boyoung.{{cite web|url=https://sports.sohu.com/20170617/n497471142.shtml|title=中乙战报：北区领头羊苦吞主场两连败 包头惨遭联赛九连败|publisher=Sohu|date=17 June 2017|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} He helped the team clinch the 2017 China League Two title, securing promotion to China League One.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.gov.cn/n14471/n14479/n14516/c832304/content.html|title=3：0完胜梅县 黑龙江火山鸣泉豪夺中乙冠军|publisher=General Administration of Sport of China|date=6 November 2017|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} On 1 March 2018, Heilongjiang Lava Spring announced that they have signed Cao Kang on a permanent basis.{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/556413.html|title=官方：曹康、赵伟加盟黑龙江|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=1 March 2018|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} In the league opener on 11 March 2018, Cao Kang scored an equaliser in a 2–2 draw with eventual league runners-up Shenzhen.{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/571939.html|title=深足2-2黑龙江，吕海东世界波，维克托点射，曹康扳平比分|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=11 March 2018|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} On 25 May 2019, Cao Kang opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Liaoning.{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/1072767.html|title=黑龙江2-0辽宁终结三轮不胜，曹康、李帅破门，杨磊中柱|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=25 May 2019|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} On the final day of the 2019 China League One season on 2 November, Cao Kang scored a brace in a 4–1 win over Changchun Yatai to help Heilongjiang reach fourth place, the highest league position the club has reached in its history, as well as break Changchun Yatai's chances of an immediate promotion back to the Chinese Super League.{{cite web|url=https://www.dongqiudi.com/articles/1262948.html|title=亚泰客场1-4惨败黑龙江冲超失败，曹康梅开二度+世界波破门|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=2 November 2019|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} On 1 July 2022, Cao Kang scored Heilongjiang Ice City's second goal in a 3–1 win over Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard.{{cite web|url=https://www.dongqiudi.com/articles/2848457.html|title=黑龙江3-1新疆终结连败，曹康传射，佧米然贴地斩|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=1 July 2022|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} Accumulatively over his five permanent seasons at the club, Cao Kang provided seven goals in 118 appearances.
=Nantong Zhiyun=
On 23 January 2023, Cao Kang signed for newly-promoted Chinese Super League side Nantong Zhiyun.{{cite web|url=https://www.dongqiudi.com/articles/3236445.html|title=官方：30岁的曹康加盟南通支云，此前效力过江苏舜天|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=23 January 2023|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} He scored his first goal for Nantong Zhiyun on 7 July 2023, in a 1–1 away draw with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger.{{cite web|url=https://www.dongqiudi.com/articles/3557269.html|title=半程不败！津门虎1-1南通，谢维军补时绝平救主，曹康破门|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=7 July 2023|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} He scored his second goal of the 2023 season on 8 August, in a 1–1 draw against Zhejiang.{{cite web|url=https://www.dongqiudi.com/articles/3627542.html|title=浙江1-1南通支云，薛庆浩扑点+神扑，赵博染红离场|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=8 August 2023|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}} The following season, Cao Kang scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win over Meizhou Hakka on 5 April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.dongqiudi.com/articles/4143509.html|title=南通1-0梅州取赛季首胜，曹康一击制胜，马塔中楣|website=www.dongqiudi.com|date=5 April 2024|access-date=2 August 2024|language=zh}}
Style of play
Cao Kang has been described by Nantong Zhiyun as having great aggressiveness and pressing, bringing defensive cover, and being capable of contributing on both sides of the pitch.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|26 July 2024}}{{Soccerway|kang-cao/332409}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||
| rowspan="3"|Jiangsu Youth
|2011 |12 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2012
|China League Two |19 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 19 | 3 | |||
| colspan=2 | Total
!31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| rowspan="4"|Jiangsu Suning
|2014 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015
|Chinese Super League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016
|Chinese Super League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0{{efn|name=ACL|Appearances in AFC Champions League}} | 0 | 0{{efn|name=CFASC|Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| colspan=2 | Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| rowspan="1"|Heilongjiang Lava Spring (loan)
|2017 |China League Two |22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 5{{efn|name=CL2PO|Appearances in China League Two play-offs}} | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| rowspan="6"|Heilongjiang Ice City
|2018 |29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2019
|China League One |22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 24 | 4 | ||
| 2020
|China League One |14 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|name=CL1RPO|Appearances in China League One relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2021
|China League One |19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 19 | 1 | ||
| 2022
|China League One |32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 32 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2 | Total
!116 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 118 | 8 |
| rowspan="3"|Nantong Zhiyun
|2023 |Chinese Super League |28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2024
|Chinese Super League |20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 20 | 2 | ||
| colspan=2 | Total
!48 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 4 |
| colspan=3 | Career total
!217 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 229 | 15 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Heilongjiang Ice City
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|kang-cao/332409}}
{{Nantong Zhiyun F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cao, Kang}}
Category:Chinese men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Shandong
Category:Sportspeople from Binzhou
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:China League Two players
Category:China League One players
Category:Chinese Super League players
Category:Jiangxi Dingnan United F.C. players